Burton Books

It is as if he's been writing for decades, so naturally does his peculiar grasp of the English language grace each page of this charming book. "The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy: and Other Stories" is everything you would expect a book of poems by Tim Burton to be, yet somehow not at all over-familiar but as fresh, as enchanting and memorable as to watch a film like "Edward Scissorhands" or "Ed Wood" for the first time. The gentle stories are told with an ironic and understated compassion. Some--such as the poignant tale of the titular Oyster Boy--will stay with you long after you've turned the page. His artwork is reminiscent of Edward Gorey in tone and humor but retains Burton's unmistakable stamp. The characters as illustrated are not infrequently gruesome yet also endearing and earnest. You wouldn't quite trust them off paper, yet feel compelled to treat the pages very kindly, all the same. The entire ensemble is so wrong it's come all the way back round to right again.

I let three of my friends read it, and each of them read the pitiful tales of Robot Boy, The Girl Who Turned Into A Bed or Mummy Boy with blankness at first, then a sharp if morbid curiosity, and at last a smile of incredulous bewilderment. I guess Burton is an acquired taste. I'm happy to say that I acquired him years ago on a little film called "Beetlejuice" and he's been a joyous source of illumination ever since. This book is a gem. I highly recommend it not only to his fans, but to everyone who likes to mix a little macabre in their whimsy. Or vice versa.

There isn't a whole lot to not like about this book. While it is short, sometimes brevity is key to good storytelling. Tim Burton's little comic strip style book perfectly captures readers with it's dark wit and laughable illustrations. While this is and never could be considered good literature by any stretch of the imagination, it is never-the-less an entertaining read with a cast of colorless characters (most of the illustrations are in black in white) that will make you laugh out loud. Any fan of Tim Burton or dark humor will enjoy this quick read!

As short and sweet as I need to be, the book is very well put together. The quality is good. It's built to last. And if you are a true Burtonian, then you will love this book.

Very graphic, very twisted, very dark humored and filled with magical realism. It's truly as genius as all of Burton's work. I'm sure it can be adapted to be one of the best animation movies.

This is an amaizing Tim Burton's book, I love Tim's world, the stories are wonderful and the drawings, this guy is great.

The first chapter had me hooked with the Coke/Berlin Wall story. If you are looking for a balanced book on economics for newbies, without the math, than this is the book for you. The author does a good job explaining his point of view and usually succeeds at being balanced. I am half way through the book and have no complaints so far.

This book is written by a journalist, who happens to be an economist (or the other way around). Anybody interested in learning more about 'why life is the way it is' should read this piece.

My 20 year old nephew, a junior college student not known for his scholarly pursuits, took this book before I had a chance to read it. He found it so fascinating that he began taking it with him into the bathroom. He says he's going to take an economics course next semester.

Im not an Econmoic buff whatsoever (Had to read it for my grad class). This book is easy to understand and fun. GREAT!

This book provides a superb explanation of the core concepts of economics, allowing the reader to grasp the essential principles, or, as in my case, allowing the reader to gain a far better understanding of these principles than he previously had. The author uses colorful examples, and he is an excellent writer who uses good English to make his points rather than dry jargon. It allows the reader to develop a much more vivid, clear understanding of the principles in question. This is a superb book, which I highly recommend.

William Markham, antitrust attorney, San Diego, CA

My daughter loved it!!!! It was a required reading for school (senior, high school) and she made a 93 on the test!!!!

This was my first Mary Higgins Clark book. I got this with 4 others stories by Clark and this was my least favorite of the four. I listen to them on CD while I walk.

What I didn't like about this story is that the characters weren't developed enough for me. I frankly didn't care too much. The first murder was of Darcy's character and I really didn't feel anything other than curious about how Erin would catch him. When Erin's character was in trouble my only emotion was that the outcome I predicted happened and I was a disappointed.

This book did hold my attention but it was predictable and the characters were not developed. I almost wasn't going to read the other books I got by Mary Higgins Clark based on Loves Music, Loves to Dance.

I really enjoy Mary Higgins Clark, and finally got around to reading this one.

Darcy Scott and Erin Kelley were always the best of friends. They each had a great career. Darcy was a decorator and Erin a wonderful jewelry designer. As part of a project, they were helping their friend Nona research the kinds of people who place personal ads in magazines trying to find their lucky match. Erin answered an ad, "Loves Music,Loves to Dance." That was the worst fate of all. When Darcy was going to meet Erin up for dinner one evening, she never showed up. This was totally unlike Erin, and Darcy knew something was wrong. Later when her body turns up, Darcy is horror-struck. After this happens, Darcy is determined to find out just what happened to Erin. So she manages to retrieve the ads her friend answered, and arranges to meet each of these guys in a safe place.

Darcy better watch out though. One of those ads was the killer's, and Darcy may end up dead. But the gentlemen who seem the most likely suspects are not the one. And the person Darcy believes she is the safest with, may be the biggest killer of all. And the whole time, he has been watching Darcy, and has BIG plans especially for her.

very good novel, not my fav one but it was very good, it was kinda boring in the middle but the end of course as USUAL it was the best!!!!

Darcy and Erin are doing research on the kind of people who place personal ads by answering some personals and going out on dates. Erin chooses one where the man signs himself, "Loves music, loves to dance" and he does - but he's also a serial killer.

This book follows the same old formula that all of Mary Higgins Clarke's books do: A beautiful heroine is stalked by a perverted psycho. She meets a lot of red herrings who could all be the baddie and we won't know the villain's true identity until the minute when our damsel is rescued by Prince Charming. There's no suspense or excitement.

Clark's books are quick reads, good for the beach or a plane trip, but too predictable and poorly written for me to read anymore of them. There are too many characters to keep track of, we're given way too much useless information about them, the dialog is full of grandiose words and phrases that aren't realistic, and we know the heroine will solve the mystery in the end. I like this book's title and the idea of a killer finding his victims through personals, but it didn't hold my interest.

I read "The Initiation" several years ago. I went looking for author Donald Schnell online because I'm a fan of his wife Marilyn's "Fit for Life" books. (I was hoping I'd find her if I found him.) This was surprising: Donald Schnell is now a power loan broker. Google him under his nickname, "Doc Schnell." It's interesting what you find.

I make no judgements about whether any of the Internet bulletin board info out there is correct, but this is an overview of what's out there: He no longer seems to be doing spiritual seminars. In his career as loan broker and financial consultant, several people who have had contact with him claim they found him to be somewhat of a high-pressure, wheeler-dealer type. There are several postings out there online telling people to "watch out for him."

I don't know if all that's true or just sour grapes, and I certainly don't want spread unfair rumors. But I would like to know: What happened to Babaji's claim that Schnell was the only one who could educate the "sweet souls," as I recall from reading the book?

It's just very strange. Someone who supposedly has had a life-changing, miraculous experience with an eternally living avatar and was accepted into the Order of the Swamis is now... a power broker.

Yet another fraudster. The author claims to have spent 17 years of study under Dr. Hugh Greer Carruthers (another con man and I should know, he was my uncle) however the author fails to mention that Carruthers died in 1960 and the author was born in 1955.

This book has in some ways reminded me of Life and Teachings of the Masters of the Far East by Baird T. Spalding. The book is written as an adventure story, and whatever one may want to make out of the story, it does express a number of spiritual truths. Of course those who have enjoyed reading this book may also enjoy reading the books "Autobiography of a Yogi" as well as other books written both about Babaji and about different spiritual masters. Other than Babaji, several other well-known spiritual teachers found honorable mention in this book - among them are Sai Baba and Ramana Maharshi.

This book was written several years ago and after I finished reading it, I became very curious to find out how the story continued i.e. what has become out of the author. It seems, after this book was written that the author worked very hard on spreading his fame and popularity and then, very soon afterward, vanished into thin air together with his wife, who was also rather famous.

As for those who long to meet with or sit at the feet of Babaji or any other spiritual master, all it takes is an open heart and committing one's life wholeheartedly to spiritual purposes. It is then through common goals and purposes that we meet with like-minded and like-hearted souls.

This is one of the most uplifting books that I have read. A number of my deep spiritual questions were answered. It is a book that lifts you into Love, opening the Heart. Premananada is where the Heart is. This book is must read for those seriuos about there spiritual growth. In a sense the reader experiences the initiation along side the author.

I picked this book up because of my interest in Babaji. I just couldnt put the book down. I felt waves of love coming from every chapter.

This is a wonderful book for anyone to read! At night i would usually get in trouble for staying up to late reading Molly Moon's Incredible Book Of Hypnotism. As i read this book i felt like i was really there going on all the adventures with Molly. I would reccomend this book to anyone that is ready to read one of the best books in their life!


-Evey

I purchased this book for my two oldest Grandsons for a Valentine's Day gift. One Grandson reads anything and everything he sees; the other one reads next to nothing. Both of the boys thoroughly enjoyed this book. In fact, the non-reader was reading it during class and when he would ususlly be playing outside. They loved it. Both boys are 11 years old.

The title is a spoiler, but reader, only if you can work out what I mean, will know the ending to the book!
Molly Moon is living the life of the beggar. She isn't one bit pretty or talented. She is bullied, she always gets into trouble, she only has one friend. Her friend is Rocky Scarlet, who is a lot calmer and popular at school.
Then one day at the library, Molly finds a book on hypnotism, and the adventure begins...She takes the book, learns its lessons, and after learning that Rocky is adopted, she flies to New York to find him.
Someone is following her. A villian that knows her secret, and decides to kidnap her dog Petula, who was the first subject of Molly's hypnotism.
There is a suprise in store for the reader! Why did Molly find the book? Who is this villian? This review is a real spoiler, but I want to talk about this book soooooo much!
Can I hypnotize you to "find" the book and keep it? AND READ IT!!!!!!!!!

I think that this book by Georgia Byng is a wonderfully imaginative book, which i enjoyed immensely. I would give this book a 4 1/2 stars out of 5. the charcters are well thought out, the plot(s) are very creative, and I absolutely LOVE that there is a female hero who(to a point) has superpowers.
Molly Moon, the main character, is very well written. Georgia did a very good job of describing her physical features and her personality. She also did a good jod with almost all of the other characters; they personalities that you can actually imagine a person having instead of just what the words on the page tell you. The only character i had trouble picturing was Molly's best friend, Rocky. Other than that, all of the other characters were excellently described. Especially what they were thinking about certain events.
The plot is very creative; Molly(using hypnotism) goes to America to "rescue" Rocky after he is adopted. While she is there she becomes famous, her dog gets kidnapped and robs a bank! I personally think that it is very interesting when one plot ends and another begins. It keeps up the suspense for the whole book.
Very few books have a female hero( or at least there are more males) women are just as important as men and should be used in books more often. what is even better about this particular book is that the hero has the power to make anyone do anything she wants. this book can get very funny when Molly hypnotizes people to do very weird and embarassing things as revenge for being mean to her.
This was a very good book and I highly reccommend it to people ages 9-14. The author did a very nice job and I am sure many people will enjoy this book.

I love this book! Molly Moon finds a book all about hypnotism written by a Dr.Logan. Soon Molly is off to New York City for some fun and adventure. Once there she meets up with her old friend Rocky Scarlet. They have fun until a man by the name of Professor Nockman takes her pug Petula and blackmails her into robbing a bank for him. Molly does it and gets Petula back and returns the stolen items back to the bank in an unexpected way.

I just finished this book a few minutes ago. All I can say is, "WOW!"

Having grown up in the naive period when we were inculcated with the notion that elected officials looked out for us regular people, it is hard to shake some of that naivete unless it's in print and in front of my eyes. And this book does an outstanding job at educating people in the subversion of the democratic process from within. However...I think when the definitive book on the George W. Bush administration is written, it will be far more devastating.

The book is an amazing triumph for Woodward and Bernstein, and a terrific experience for the reader. Next on my list is "The Final Days."

I purchased this book after seeing the movie, again, on TCM a couple of weeks ago. If you like the movie, you'll love the book.

I was just 7-8 years old while Woodward and Bernstein were writing their Watergate stories for the Washington Post and knew very little about the details that led to President Nixon's ultimate downfall. Until now. I couldn't put this book down. It is filled with every detail of the Watergate break-in and the subsequent events that brought down the Nixon White House. The book covers everything, step by step, from learning of the Watergate break-in to Nixon being connected to many, many "dirty tricks" (and you won't believe some of them! Wow!) played to assure him a win in the election. Woodward and Bernstein labored day and night for the truth and refused to publish their stories until they were sure they had it. They protected their sources and never gave up even when it would have been VERY easy to do so. They asked tough questions, tracked down elusive witnesses and kept the public informed with their reporting. They saw a wrong and devoted that part of their lives to their investigation until the public was completely aware of the truth. Ultimately, they brought down a president, but their reporting exposed a White House that cared more about winning an election-- and one that pursued illegal activities to do it--than it did about protecting the citizens of the country that elected them. Woodward and Bernstein seem to be exactly what the forefathers had in mind when they provided for a "free press" in our Constitution.

I was interested in this book because I was part of the "dirty Tricks" by the Nixon administration. I was threated over the telephone and my daughter's horse was "shortreined" but caught in time. My husband was a democrat running for office. I met Mr. Bernstein about 6 months ago and was very impressed with his knowledge of journalism. I found the book extremely interesting and it is a first edition. A real keeper.

This book is a must-read for everyone. If you want to understand how people in power can abuse that power and how they hide it from you, read this book. It is also very well written and as good as any mystery. Learn what Nixon was really doing to get elected and how he and his henchmen tried to call it "national security."

Woodward and Bernstein detective work did an amazing job of unraveling Nixon's foolish ways. Part of Nixon was genius (with his foreign policy), but the other part was fool (dealing with Watergate).

This is the story of a failed presidency that had the potential of greatness. It all started because of foolish antics at the Watergate hotel. Woodward and Bernstein are like bulldogs as they unravel the web of deception and dishonesty that plagued Nixon and his highest staff.

This is a masterpiece of journalism. If only we had journalists today that would seek the truth like these two did back in the 1970s!

The Re-Discovery of Common Sense: A Guide to: The Lost Art of Critical Thinking

I have the fondest memories of this book, and I was delighted to recently find a copy.

It's the ultimate "power tool" book that should please young boys--an old time steam shovel with a personality to boot that is out to prove she can still do her thing.

The drawings are detailed and gorgeous, and the end shall always be a classic.

This book is must for all dad's or grandpa's to read to their children. My kids memorized it and wanted it for their children when they grew up.
Great service from this seller.

This was a favorite book from my childhood. My wife and I recently found out we will be having a little girl, and I can't wait to share this book with her.

IT IS ONE OF THE MOST LOVED BOOKS OF MY CHILDHOOD(50'S),IT BROUGHT BACK GREAT MEMORIES.

Mr. Michael Mulligan and his faithful steam shovel, lovingly called Mary Anne, are working class heroes, fighting to retain their independence in the face of corporate technological prowess in the construction industry. Can outmoded steam power compete with the awesome strength of diesel? Conveniently, this book features paper (not plastic) pages, so your tot can decimate the images of the vile diesel shovels with all the rage that his or her small hands can muster. Don't' be upset about this, it's nothing a roll of clear packing tape can't fix.

Much like the story of Casey Jones, vindication of our heroes will require their demise. Tasked with one final job, the digging of the basement for a fancy town hall, Mike and Mary Anne find themselves trapped by the tremendous success of their labor. Unable to get out of the hole, Mary Anne is broken down to be made into a boiler for the new building, and Mike becomes the janitor. This is no happy ending. No longer are Mike and Mary Anne independent contractors, free to come and go as they please. Mary Anne's steam-powered feet have been bound, like a disobedient concubine. And Mike has become a low-ranking servant of the state, forever forced to feed coal into the mutilated form that was one his industrial lover. The life lesson here is that it doesn't matter if you are honest and hard-working. In fact, those are disadvantages. The only winners are the diesel shovels, destroying without remorse.

Good for tykes who like to play with blocks and toy trucks. Might as well let them know what they're in for.

"The Whole Story" edition, with marginal notes and photos to describe the story. The graphics don't always add much to the story, but never detract from the simple, straightforward telling of this round-the-world-on-a-bet story. Just enough drama, comedy, and love interest to keep the story moving at a crackling pace, without ever sidetracking the reader from the basic 80-day timetable that must be met.

I was actually a bit sad at the journey's end for Fogg and his companions, until the final twist gave the story a happy ending.

I finally had the chance to read Jules Verne's classic tale of the eccentric Englishman and his famous bet. Just to round out the experience I also watched the Mike Todd film, also a classic with an endless collection of superstars including David Niven and cameo appearances by Charles Boyer, Frank Sinatra, Noel Coward and Edward R. Murrow.

The story was written in serial for the magazines and this adds to the richness as each chapter tells a story. My favorite part is Paspartou and Fogg being re-united in the circus after a separation of more than one week and several ports of call.

Around the World in 80 Days is an adventurous book. Mr. Fogg is a man that will do just about anything to win his 20,000 dollar bet, like spending as much money as he wants to get where he needs to. Throughout his journey his mood will change. O gave this book three and a half stars out of five because it had a lot of interesting parts with just the right amount of reality. I like this book and can see it being well known for many years to come. Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne is a fun, adventure book that is good for people of any age. i feel that this book is the best of the series.

Note: Some immature Mormon has been slamming my reviews because I wrote some negative reviews of books attempting to defend the Book of Mormon.

So your "helpful" votes are greatly appreciated. Thanks

In my opinion, a short review is best if you haven't read the book. I always read the longer reviews afterwards.

I read this book forty years ago in college and loved it. I also saw the movie, but as one reviewer pointed out, Phileas Fogg traveled by boat, train, car, sled, and even elephant, but never by balloon. The balloon scene was added to the movie.

Nevertheless, I loved all of Jules Verne's stories, and I highly recommend this one, whose title says it all--"Around the World in Eighty Days" on a bet that it couldn't be done.

I enjoy collecting paperback books with neat covers, and I have a couple of "Around the World in Eighty Days."

Oh, and I hope this is helpful. Read "The Other Log of Phileas Fogg," by Philip Jose Farmer. This retelling of Verne's story has Fogg going after Captain Nemo. It's great Fun. Farmer also wrote novels about Tarzan and the "Barnstormer in Oz"--very sexy.

The Other Log of Phileas Fogg
Barnstormer In Oz/a

A book based around a bet. Two adventurers, one a gentleman, and one not so nice, make a not so small wager, on Fogg's ability to circumnavigate the globe in 80 days or less.

When something like that happens, of course there will be villainous nogoodniks trying to stop you from accomplishing your task, winning the bet, getting the girl and all the good grog, etc.

excellent choice if you want to know the true story. it is amazing how well written (for a musician) it is and how Miles remembered things with an awesome precission.

Miles: The Autobiography by Miles Davis and Quincy Troupe *****


Miles Davis has always been a fasinating character to me so when I realized that there was an autobiography of him I tracked it down and bought it. While and after I read the book I didn't know what to think. I mean it is not your typical autobiography. It doesn't talk about most of the stuff you would expect him to talk about and when he does talk about it it's very brief and not in depth in the slightest, but at the same time it is still very interesting. The drug addiction, the women, the violence, the racism, everything the man went through is here. Not much is said about his children how ever, I'm not sure if that is purposeful or not but he does say that his sons are "screw ups" so it is all possible that he just didn't give to nothings about them, though when he briefly mentions his daughter he seems very proud of her. So all in all Miles is a great and interesting tale of one of the most important, original, and influential musicians of all time.

My only complaints are that Miles comes across as an ego maniac though he claims he is not several times in the book. The other one is that Miles Davis is one of the biggest and most racist men in all of history. Everything he says about being treated like nothing because he is black is the same way they he treated white people and the saddest part was that he couldn't even see that he was doing it. He claimed that blacks did everything better and white people stole everything. I will admit white people steal a lot, whites are essentially the `vultures of culture' but blacks did not invent everything, whites, Mexicans, and every other race invented things, and just because some one was influenced by it doesn't mean they copied it like he claims. Also just because someone invented something does not mean they do it the best, to even say that applies prejudice. It depends on the person not what color they are. As a musician Miles is killer, but as a person he really just sucked.

So if you can get past this then Miles is a great and interesting read.

Although conventional wisdom may indicate a pathway to genius as a strait line, point A (prodigy) to point B (fame and renown), it's actually one motherf****er of a zigzag. It ain't a matter of black and white neither, although Miles Davis would have you believe that he was in the middle of a race war conducted at his expense where his climb to glory was clouded behind a storm of white critics, corporate America and the perceptions of white Americans (he became the highest paid jazz performer in history). The picture that does come to focus is one of focused dedication, unique intelligence and an astonishing series of musical visions which carry a young dentist's son from East St. Louis to worldwide fame.

Miles takes us on his journey in his own colorful vernacular from day one to the year before his death, a rare, delectible treat in an autobio. Redacted are specific musical methods and cumbursome jazz theory, but the discussion is generous in his crediting others who have come in and out of his bands and contributed to the music he made: Gil Evans, John Coltrane, Dizzy, Bird, Shorter, Hancock, even his own nephew, who he eventually fires. The man is not the loner one might think and thrives in the company of musicians and artists but sadly succombs to the artist's best friend: drug dealers.

His mistrust of the world around him was exacerbated by prodigious drug use and sad realizations of who got what for the art form he helped create. Elvis is tossed aside, "lazy white musicians" performing crap, but he's at his most loquacious when describing his visions of a musical chart for his art and his heartfelt recollection of collaborators gone by, many lost to the same drugs in which he wallowed, many white. The language goes into full bloom as he recounts the many women he either married, had children with or simply bedded. He claims to have never gone after another band member's lady, but anyone else was fair game.

What makes Miles, the book, most appealing is his humanity, his stark feelings on his fellow man and the insight one gets from hearing a smart guy tell his tale of an artist's circuitous journey to legend. Not once do you hear a dishonest note and we're party to a vibrant blueprint that now, after his passing, makes me Kind of Blue.

Not enough can be said about the Music of Miles Davis and it's impact for the rest of time. This book will give any Jazz fan an insight into a fabulous era in Jazz as well as it's evolution. I absolutely love all of his music, the Bands that he put together over the years, and the Musicians that he literally discovered who went on to infamy. But I have to be honest, I just wish that there was a little more to the man in regards to human qualities.

MILES reads like a discography with transcribed, unedited interviews; however, a few fantastic observations manage to show up. For example:

"'Bird of the Cool' became a collector's item, I think, out of a reaction to Bird and Dizzy's music. Bird and Diz play this hip, real fast thing, and if you weren't a fast listener, you couldn't catch the humor or the feeling in their music. Their musical sound wasn't sweet, and it didn't have harmonic lines that you could easily hum out on the street with your girlfriend trying to get over with a kiss. Bebop didn't have the humanity of Duke Ellington. It didn't even have that recognizable thing. Bird and Diz were great, fantastic, challenging--but they weren't sweet. But 'Birth of the Cool' was different because you could hear everything and hum it also."

MILES could have been 200 pages shorter and only focused on Davis' thoughts about music--perhaps as a musical memoir?--and it would have said a whole lot more.

This is the only work by Goethe I have yet read. While the story was very interesting and you can't help but feel for Werther I found myself angry at him in the end. Doing what he did and then orchestrating it such that others have to live the rest of their life feeling guilty for it (I am trying not to give away too much here) is horrible. He fell in love with someone that wasn't "available" and then he spirals downward and ultimately blames the other person for their unavailability. Like all good works of literature the story doesn't necessarily tell you how to feel. It doesn't raise Werther up as either a hero or a villain (though I get wafts of the former). I walked away feeling like he was a villain, but enjoyed the story nonetheless and would recommend it to anyone who likes well written literature.

This is one of Goethe's earlier works, and in comparison with his other achievements, such as Faust or Elective Affinities, this book is not as engaging or well written. Some of Werther's lack comes from the fact that it is confessional literature, and is told by Werther--not Goethe. However, some of its shortcomings can be attributed to Goethe's own immaturity as a writer at the time. That being said, Werther is still a brilliantly written piece of literature that is not only thought-provoking, but beautiful as well, as exquisite art often is.

I don't think I've been this annoyed by a main character since "The Catcher in the Rye." Werther is probably one of the most irritating, whiney characters in the history of literature. I never once felt an ounce of pity for this obsessive, creepy guy, and I can understand completely why the girl pushes him away. A very unattractive personality, and I don't know what was going on at the time to make readers swoon for his "sorrows." I kept waiting for him to finally shoot himself, and when he did my feeling was, "thank god." That said, it is superbly written, and it does belong in any list of classic books. Even though the writing is beautiful, I still could not care about Werther, and I hope that today's readers aren't inspired to glory in self-pity the way Werther does.

A masterpiece of Teenage Angst. If you are young, read this to educate yourself at how complicated your emotions really are. Much in the way Russian novelists create their characters, Goethe does the same, but with German flair.

For any one who does not know the extremes of emotion and death this book is excellent. I personally found it very helpful and at times depressing to read especially at the end. But its message is equally as powerful to read on a rainy day.